Less than 24 hours after the Irish rugby team secured a stunning late win at the Stade de France in Paris, Irish Showjumper Mark McAuley has denied the French another win – by taking victory in the Accumulator competition at the World Cup fixture in Bordeaux.

McAuley, from Ardee Co Louth and the 9-year-old gelding Valentino Tuilière were first to go in the competition and posted what proved an unbeatable target, collecting the maximum 65 points in a time of 44.93.

France’s former World No.1 Simon Delestre came closest to giving the Bordeaux audience a home win, but he has to settle for second place with Filou Carlo Zimequest, almost a second slower than the Irish winner.